Holocaust Remembrance Day

These are prisoners being liberated in 1945. They were the lucky ones. For every one saved, how many others were murdered? Let us never forget, and never allow it to happen again. Liberation from Dachau. | Source

This is from Ghetto Litzmannstadt. It is showing children looking for fuel to heat their homes. Scavenging for fuel. | Source

Photo from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. This was a search and interrogation for weapons of captured Jews, before being taken to the Umschlagplatz. So they were unable to defend themselves and fight back. | Source

A man comes out from a hiding place that was created for the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. This happened many times over, and makes me think of Corrie Ten Boom's, The Hiding Place. | Source

Captured Jews during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, that were captured and being taken to be deported. | Source

These are men that reported to Heinrich Himmler. It is amazing that an idea can grow and permeate to this degree. Original caption read, "The leader of the grand operation." SS General Jürgen Stroop is at center left (looking up). | Source

People being deported, had to take whatever they could carry with them. These are residents from Ghetto Litzmannstadt. They are heading towards the trains that will take them to Chelmno. | Source

Jews being loaded onto trains. I can't imagine what their thoughts must have been. Umschlagplatz, between 1942 and 1943. | Source

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From Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, May 1943. It amazes me this wasn't that long ago really. | Source

Adolf Hitler at the Berghof for a state visit. | Source

Securing a street, German Sentries. | Source

This is from Ghetto Litzmannstadt: Men haul a cart down the street. | Source

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Woman doctor in a ghetto helping a young man that injured his hand. | Source

These are department heads of the Brauer Firm, armament factory that employed over 2000 people, being arrested. | Source

This picture includes both German and Jewish police guard an entrance to the Łódź Ghetto. | Source

From the Sabac Internment Camp, September 1941. German soldiers alongside Ustasa collaborators, lead a column of Serbs to the Sabac internment camp during anti-partisan "cleansing" operations. From the Macva region. | Source

Serbia. Gypsies. Public Domain. | Source

Rescued from Dachau. They are toasting to their liberators. This is amazing, and might be one of my favorite photos ever taken, of all time. | Source

We Need to Always Remember

It is a wonderful thing, that the world has determined a need to designate particular days to remember the Holocaust. In the United States, we can look at our calendars and see in April, a special day designated for Holocaust Remembrance Day. You may hear about it being celebrated for several days as well. Regardless of when one recognizes it, what is most important is that we remember at all.

We live in a time in which we can observe different people and groups responding differently to the Holocaust. The truth is, we really aren't that far removed in time from when it all happened, if you think about it. In fact, we can think of parents and grandparents that were alive when it all happened. All the more, it is just amazing that some might suggest it never happened, or that others try to rewrite history to distort the truths surrounding this matter.

I am sharing this information and gallery of photos in order that we might all remember and never forget. It is the least we can do, and I firmly believe it is also our responsibility. Not just for those that lived in the generation of World War 2, but for all generations thereafter as well. It may even be more critical in the later generations.

We need to pledge to ourselves to do all that is within our power to never let another Holocaust to happen. Evil can and will continue to creep up in humanity as we have observed over the centuries. It does so in the most unlikely of ways, as well. Let us all vow to never let it creep up, unchecked. Let us all never allow us to only stand up for those we love or ourselves. Evil is still evil, even if it is not directed at you. All humans share this common burden and responsibility.

What was Lost

Unimaginable loss occurred during the Holocaust. Six million people lost their lives, and not because of anything they did, but because of who they were. There was massive loss of liberty, justice, life, as well as generations of culture and families. Sadly, we observed a loss of conscience, a loss of empathy for others in humanity by some. Perhaps it was a loss for some of dealing with the reality of what was going on. Regardless, it was a great loss. That particular time in history, was one of the most painful chapters in the history of all the world. It is imperative we never forget to learn from these examples in history. We are doomed to repeat such things, or feel tempted to not stand up with the time might come. Six million souls were murdered. Never again can this happen.

What Can be Celebrated

We can learn from humanity's past mistakes, and we have to. Unimaginable bravery in the face of great evil was what it took to take it down. Hope and strong faith and perseverance shone through in those that fought hard and prayed hard to bring an end to these atrocities. These are the kinds of things that defeat a great evil when not much else can. We see continued enduring strength as well, in the Jewish people since then. They have flourished in Israel, the United States and around the whole world.

Observing that tyranny can be squelched is another thing to celebrate. Strength from many, came together and was mobilized to defeat Hitler. Out of such incredible darkness, can come the hope of never letting it happen again. The hope of stopping things before they ever get a foot off the ground.

We can celebrate critical thinking about what is going on today in our world, and in every facet of our societies. We cannot be part of societies that are the equivalent to a "frog being slowly boiled in a pot," not ever noticing the ever increasing danger to people and society.

Finally, we can celebrate the human spirit. From the Holocaust survivors, to those that prayed for them all, to those that fought for their liberation. What truly wonderful things to be celebrated.

As for the images here. I specifically chose what I did, not to forget the more awful images we can likely conjure up in our minds from movies and photos, but to celebrate the good winning over the evil. It is all a very sad story, but can never let that be a reason to put it out of our minds. Many of the images are in thumbnail form, and you can click on them to see them a bit larger. Or, there is a slideshow option that you can click through the images.

I hope you will join me in always trying to remember what happened before, during and after the Holocaust, so that we can make sure that nothing remotely like it ever happens again.

Comments

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Paula 4 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

RTalloni, thank you for your comment. It is hard to remember something as horrific as the holocaust, but I agree with you, we must not forget. It is amazing to me, that there is still so much hatred, but is an example of good and evil playing out. I am not Jewish, but I believe in God, and am a Christian, and feel like there is so much more going on behind such racial hatred and injustice.

Until God settles all scores, I think it is imperative we do what we can for the sake of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as long as we all live, and for all people equally. To those that want to deny that of others, and even take life, I don't have much respect for, because I truly believe life is precious and short enough. I am happy to share this and remember, and hope people always remember.

RTalloni 4 years agofrom the short journey

Thank you for highlighting this day. We must not forget! I checked to see how it was remembered by Israelis and was so saddened to read of how Palestinian terrorists "celebrated" there time of memorial. https://twitter.com/idfspokesperson

Last week a neighbor gave me info including a DVD on how his parents fled under gunfire and escaped Nazis. I have not had a chance to review it as I wish, but I hope to soon begin a post on their story.

Today, the Jewish nation (and Jews everywhere) live with the knowledge that a large portion of the Arab world continues to work according to the motto "First Comes Saturday, Then Comes Sunday" with the most rabid terrorists actively pursuing Jews and Christians alike. I understand that there is a documentary by the name of that motto, but I have not seen it.

Thanks again for encouraging remembering.

Author

Paula 4 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Thank you very much for your comment, My Cook Book. I appreciate that.